Smart & Caring Kicks Off with Victoria Foundation and Governor General
There were kicks, hits, tosses and high-fives July 19 as the Victoria Foundation launched its Smart & Caring Community Fund with the help of the Governor General of Canada. The flurry of physical activity took place because one of the initiatives the $200,000 matching fund will support is a physical literacy program for young children. Program participants demonstrated activities for His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston and a crowd of more than 400 people at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
Victoria’s fund is the first in a national Smart & Caring initiative of Community Foundations of Canada. Inspiration came from His Excellency in an address to the organization last year where he called on Canada’s community foundations to help develop a smarter and more caring Canada to celebrate the nation’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
Kids Group – Participants of the ABCs of Physical Literacy program pose with His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, who said of the program: “[It] is a great way to support children, to help them battle inactivity and gain confidence. In turn, they might be inspired to help others throughout their lives, building on the kindness that they were shown early on. And who knows what they will think of to transform our communities in the future? And when this happens across the country, a better Canada is the result.” Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
Participants of the ABCs of Physical Literacy program demonstrate the skills they are taught. Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
From left to right: Ian Bird, President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, Victoria Foundation fund holder and former board member Fiona Hyslop, Victoria Foundation Honorary Governor Naz Rayani and his wife Yasmine Rayani. Photo credit: Stephanie Slater
Carol-Lynne Michaels, an organizer of the TEDx Victoria conference, removes flowers from the stage after the event to deliver them to Ross Bay Villa. Michaels said she was moved to tears by the Governor General because “he is one of Canada’s heroes!” Photo credit: Stephanie Slater
Sandra Scarth, Co-Chair of the Victoria Foundation’s advisory board for the Lex Reynolds Adoption and Permanency Trust Fund. Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
Carmela Cooper (left) and May Lou-Poy, an Honorary Governor of the Victoria Foundation, with His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston. Photo credit: Stephanie Slater
His Excellency with Victoria Foundation Honorary Governor Emeritus Grania Litwin and her husband Michael Litwin. Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston with Victoria Foundation fund holder Dr. Michael Brennan and an unidentified guest. Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston with Dr. Marsha Hanen, past Chair of the Victoria Symphony Board of Directors Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston presented Caring Canadian Awards to 10 B.C. residents. The Award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation. From left to right: Marie Therese Scott, Herbert Pitts, Anne Waterhouse, Tom Burley, Jim Reed, His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, Gwyn Frayne, Lydia Kasianchuk, Keith Pattinson, Charles Burkett, Betty Anne Devitt Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
Charles (Chuck) Burkett was one of 10 B.C. residents to be presented with a Caring Canadian Award in acknowledgement of their extensive community contributions. Burkett is a former Chair of the Victoria Foundation’s Board of Directors and is the current Chair of the foundation’s Honorary Governors. He was a founding board member of Arts Sustainability Victoria and is a director of the Victoria Commandery of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller. Photo credit: Stephanie Slater
Left to right: Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson, foundation board Vice-chair Mark Litwin, Governor General’s staff member Colonel Sylvie Beaudry, and Ian Bird, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, sharing a light moment as they prepare to say good-bye to the Governor General. Photo credit: Stephanie Slater
His Excellency “high fives” a physical literacy program participant after their presentation. Robert Bettauer, CEO of Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, is in the background. Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones